open.spotify.com/playlist/56r...
The higher of two entries from the Quo in this countdown, “Lies” was listed as a double-A side with “Don't Drive My Car”, but the former is my track of choice. The band would chart with no fewer than 55 singles in the 20th Century; this was the 21st of those.
The higher of two entries from the Quo in this countdown, “Lies” was listed as a double-A side with “Don't Drive My Car”, but the former is my track of choice. The band would chart with no fewer than 55 singles in the 20th Century; this was the 21st of those.
Probably the longest title in this 400-track countdown, so space to comment is at a premium. This was Lewie's breakthrough hit by that name, although by 1972 he had written and performed on #2 smash “Seaside Shuffle”.
Probably the longest title in this 400-track countdown, so space to comment is at a premium. This was Lewie's breakthrough hit by that name, although by 1972 he had written and performed on #2 smash “Seaside Shuffle”.
As song titles go, the irony is this one doesn't trip off the tongue. From a fallow period in Elton's six decades of hits, this was his 27th single to reach the UK charts but (by a short head) the least successful up to 1980 in chart placement.
As song titles go, the irony is this one doesn't trip off the tongue. From a fallow period in Elton's six decades of hits, this was his 27th single to reach the UK charts but (by a short head) the least successful up to 1980 in chart placement.
This and the next four songs on my 1980 countdown all represent the highest placing I gave their respective artists that year. Released as the lead single from Rafferty's LP “Snakes and Ladders”, it reached the dizzy heights of #54 in the UK.
This and the next four songs on my 1980 countdown all represent the highest placing I gave their respective artists that year. Released as the lead single from Rafferty's LP “Snakes and Ladders”, it reached the dizzy heights of #54 in the UK.
I could write you paragraphs about all the connections hidden under this tune's bonnet: credited to Felder for his gorgeous #jazzfusion saxophone lines, its lead vocals are by the great Bobby Womack, no less. Here's a live version with them both:
I could write you paragraphs about all the connections hidden under this tune's bonnet: credited to Felder for his gorgeous #jazzfusion saxophone lines, its lead vocals are by the great Bobby Womack, no less. Here's a live version with them both:
More #powerpop from the quartet fronted by Wendy Wu who previously appeared in this countdown way back at #344 with “Irene”. This ironically narcissistic song was their debut single but somehow didn't appear on their successful debut LP in the UK.
More #powerpop from the quartet fronted by Wendy Wu who previously appeared in this countdown way back at #344 with “Irene”. This ironically narcissistic song was their debut single but somehow didn't appear on their successful debut LP in the UK.
Not to be confused with Aretha Franklin's 1977 US Soul #1 of the same title, this gem is firmly in new wave/ #powerpop territory. The Planets reached the Top 40 in 1979 with their reggae-flavoured “Lines” but couldn't repeat that success.
Not to be confused with Aretha Franklin's 1977 US Soul #1 of the same title, this gem is firmly in new wave/ #powerpop territory. The Planets reached the Top 40 in 1979 with their reggae-flavoured “Lines” but couldn't repeat that success.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, here's #Bowie to sing Brecht and Weill! I doubt glam-rock era fans ever saw this coming—a strident number from the Germans' sung-play collab “Little Mahoganny”, first performed back in 1927—yet Bowie was a real #Brecht fan.
Quite the obscurity, this (it's not on Spotify): a noodling evocation of a quite ordinary London road and its surroundings. Andrews played keyboards on XTC's first two albums but moved on in 1979, the year before I compiled this chart.
#Forgotten80s
Quite the obscurity, this (it's not on Spotify): a noodling evocation of a quite ordinary London road and its surroundings. Andrews played keyboards on XTC's first two albums but moved on in 1979, the year before I compiled this chart.
#Forgotten80s
Not of course a brand-new track in 1980, this early heavy metal classic was re-released that August. Back in 1970, this debut had reached #4 in the UK chart; 10 years after, it reached a respectable #14. To date, #Paranoid has spent 35 weeks as a hit.
Not of course a brand-new track in 1980, this early heavy metal classic was re-released that August. Back in 1970, this debut had reached #4 in the UK chart; 10 years after, it reached a respectable #14. To date, #Paranoid has spent 35 weeks as a hit.
“But this wasn't a single for them”, I hear you cry (possibly). Technically, that's true, but of the six Police A-sides in the compilation of 45s that reached #17 in the UK chart as “Six Pack”, only this one had not been a hit earlier.
“But this wasn't a single for them”, I hear you cry (possibly). Technically, that's true, but of the six Police A-sides in the compilation of 45s that reached #17 in the UK chart as “Six Pack”, only this one had not been a hit earlier.
From an album produced by #GeorgeMartin, no less, this was the 4th UK Top 40 hit accumulated since 1978 by a hard-rock band with a slow-burn career. “No Place to Run”, the LP in question, was their 8th album but it proved to be the top seller in a long career.
From an album produced by #GeorgeMartin, no less, this was the 4th UK Top 40 hit accumulated since 1978 by a hard-rock band with a slow-burn career. “No Place to Run”, the LP in question, was their 8th album but it proved to be the top seller in a long career.
Here's a solitary appearance in my 1980 chart for the prolific and long-running outfit centred on brothers Ron and Russell #Mael. This feels very much towards the poppier end of their range of quirky #art-rock; those synth lines are pretty hypnotic.
Pretenders (1984 and 2024)
First Aid Kit (twice)
Paul Simon / James Taylor (Hyde Park)
Thomas Dolby (thanks again, @senrabnala.bsky.social)
The Michael Nyman Band
Violent Femmes
Pet Shop Boys
Kylie Minogue
Tori Amos
Deacon Blue
Nana Mouskouri
The Spinners
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Pretenders (1984 and 2024)
First Aid Kit (twice)
Paul Simon / James Taylor (Hyde Park)
Thomas Dolby (thanks again, @senrabnala.bsky.social)
Talking of songs that are popular at Christmas, this wistful anti-war song—Lewie's second and final chart hit—doesn't just hold the rare distinction of being #3 in the UK for five consecutive weeks in December 1980 (and new year '81).
#80sChristmas
Talking of songs that are popular at Christmas, this wistful anti-war song—Lewie's second and final chart hit—doesn't just hold the rare distinction of being #3 in the UK for five consecutive weeks in December 1980 (and new year '81).
#80sChristmas
A song held over from 1979, this unlikely Christmas No. 1 still held pole position on the UK chart until mid-January 1980. Not exactly a singles band ('tho "See Emily Play" went Top 10 in 1967) the #Floyd would never reach the Top 20 again.
A song held over from 1979, this unlikely Christmas No. 1 still held pole position on the UK chart until mid-January 1980. Not exactly a singles band ('tho "See Emily Play" went Top 10 in 1967) the #Floyd would never reach the Top 20 again.
The lead track from his album “McCartney II”, this was a massive success both sides of the Atlantic—but while the studio version made it a #2 hit in the UK, a live version with Wings (the UK B-side) got the airplay that took it to #1 in the US.
#80sPop
The lead track from his album “McCartney II”, this was a massive success both sides of the Atlantic—but while the studio version made it a #2 hit in the UK, a live version with Wings (the UK B-side) got the airplay that took it to #1 in the US.
#80sPop
Listeners to John Peel's Radio 1 show in 1978-79 would've been pretty familiar with the first releases by this band from #Belfast (also known as “rigid digits”). But 1980 was the year when the ferocious snarl of Jake Burns went more mainstream.
Listeners to John Peel's Radio 1 show in 1978-79 would've been pretty familiar with the first releases by this band from #Belfast (also known as “rigid digits”). But 1980 was the year when the ferocious snarl of Jake Burns went more mainstream.
Talking of the Jam, they played a pretty significant part in growing the #ModRevival that peaked in 1980. One band to benefit from this was Secret Affair. This was the third and last of the latter's Top 20 hits and arguably their most sophisticated song.
Talking of the Jam, they played a pretty significant part in growing the #ModRevival that peaked in 1980. One band to benefit from this was Secret Affair. This was the third and last of the latter's Top 20 hits and arguably their most sophisticated song.
The second reissued portion of Jam in this part (there are more to come, as well as their then-new singles), this had been the first Top 20 hit for Weller & Co, back in 1977, peaking at #13
#NewWaveNovember
Anyway, here's Marc Bolan to intro them:
The second reissued portion of Jam in this part (there are more to come, as well as their then-new singles), this had been the first Top 20 hit for Weller & Co, back in 1977, peaking at #13
#NewWaveNovember
Anyway, here's Marc Bolan to intro them:
Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s
MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen
Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
It needed a pretty cold heart to be objective about this #Lennon song when I made my chart at the end of 1980. He was murdered on 9 December that year. I still recall my Mum relaying the shocking news before I went to school the next day.
It needed a pretty cold heart to be objective about this #Lennon song when I made my chart at the end of 1980. He was murdered on 9 December that year. I still recall my Mum relaying the shocking news before I went to school the next day.
This song was a pleasant rediscovery: I drew yet another blank when I saw the band and track listed in my 1980 countdown. Turns out it was a classy, melodic #post-punk track with a nagging keyboard motif (perhaps a bit overused).
#NewWaveNovember
This song was a pleasant rediscovery: I drew yet another blank when I saw the band and track listed in my 1980 countdown. Turns out it was a classy, melodic #post-punk track with a nagging keyboard motif (perhaps a bit overused).
#NewWaveNovember